Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-03-31
ONLY rwo sUzYrys.
A nxilton Buiis Schooner Wrecked nc

A Hilten Built Schooner Wrecked nc
SaM
The mate, steward and two colored Sea-
men of the schooner Marcus A. Davis have
met with terrible fate at sea. The weasel
sailed from Fernandina March 7th for
Philadelphia, with q cargo OF lumber.
She carried crew consisting of Mate
Benner, Second Mate Dickson, Steward
Sprague, and two negro seamen. She was
Of $50 toms burden, la feet long, 50 feet
wide, and 3 feet deep. She was built in
1876 by ID. 81. Atkins, at Milton, Del i,
and was owned BY a. d. May of Phils-
delphia.
Rough we're the gales that swept down
on the schooner. Captain Williams lost
his course. On March 21st he was of
Ohincotesgue, when in reality be was
nearly 400 miles further north. Soon
after the dawn, March Gath, had cha ged
10 day tremendous squall struck the
vessel, and she capsized, going over on
her broadside. After hours of hard
labor-the men were already nearly
exhausted by work at the pumps the
main aud fore mRats we're cut away. In
falling they carried down the mixzen-
mast, and the schooner slowly righted.
She could not sink with her floating
cargo, and there she lay, her decks fush
with the water, and the waves breaking
over her from stem TO stern. Mate BEN
ner was pinned to the deck by q portion
OF the fallen rigging, which had broken
his right leg. He lay there for an hour
before he could be liberated.
The wounded mate was lifted OH the
after house, and then the others climbed
up. First the mate was lashed securely,
and then the others dashed themselves as
best they might. Here they lay all
through the day. Their sufferings were
terrible. Whatever food was on board
was below, thoroughly soaked with water
but no one dared attempt to get il.
Water wet them through and through,
but they had none to drink. The wounded
mate died before night. HIS body was
unlashed and found quick grave, car
ried overheard in an instant by the wayee.
As the sun rose on the second day II
their exposure, all were in an almost
negroes were seized with frenzy. They
declared they would have food OF die In
the Rttompt to get. They tore away the
lashings that kept them from being
washed away, and jumped to the deck.
was eeen to stand for moment and then
disappear over the side. The other negro
Owed down the companionway and was
seen no more.
Through the day the remaining three
men lay cramped on the little after
house. They saw steamer or two in the
distance and now and then q sailing yes.
sell, but their signal Of distress was not
noticed. During the night the steward
died. The next morning another sail was
seen on the horizon, and while the suf-
ferers were Watching its near approach,
they lost consciousness, and knew no
more until they opened their eyes in the
cabin of the barque Scots Bay, which
arrived with them in New York yesterday.
Mate Peterson, with four sailors of the
Scots bay, rescued the two men, and
very modestly tells of the danger expert
enced In trying to board the schooner in
the very heavy sea. The barque's log
Baya: "Got one of our boats cleared
away and with great difficulty got her
into the water. The ship was rolling very
heavily at the time. The mate and four
seamen got into her and made all possible
haste TO get TO the wreck. Gould not
board her, the sea breaking all around
her and making a clean sweep over her
fore and aft. After several attempts. OF
last succeeded in getting so near her that
we could get hold of some of her rigging.
Managed to take off captain and second
mate, being the only survivors of the
crew. They were in very poor condi-
ton, not being able to walk, and had to
be hoisted on board